New Victory Theatre Marquee
Best Way to Light Up the Night ★ Editors’ Pick
It was quite a party Aug. 11 in Downtown Evansville as the Victory Theatre’s new marquee was lit for the first time. Following remarks by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, a countdown scrolled across the LED message board, and the few hundred people gathered outside the 102-year-old theater cheered as the lights glowed. Installation of the vertical blade-shaped marquee was a two-decade endeavor by theater manager VenuWorks and the nonprofit Friends of the Victory. Evansville Living editors love the look, too, and call it a grand “victory” for Downtown. Read more about the Victory’s new marquee on page 192.
600 Main St.
Colonial Classics
Best Landscaping Business
Life’s a garden, and Colonial Classics can dig it. Readers agree, naming the 65-year-old company “Best Garden Center” in 2022’s Best of Evansville awards. Now, it takes the crown for its landscaping prowess, which is on display throughout the Tri-State — including at many residences on Evansville Living’s annual Most Beautiful Homes lists. The company has grown to design intricate landscapes with varying differing elements — annuals, native plants, furniture, stonework, and even swimming pools.
3633 Epworth Road, Newburgh, Indiana 812-853-6622
Shannon Aleksandr’s Salon & Spa
Best Full-Service Salon
When you’re looking for full-body TLC in a setting straight out of the big city, readers recommend Shannon Aleksandr’s. Guests at the 17-year-old salon business can pamper themselves with top-tier haircuts, coloring, and styling, while spa patrons relax with nail services, waxing, facials, makeup applications, and even eyelash extensions. To better cater to its growing clientele, in early 2023 the salon debuted its Millard Kwon-designed renovations, amplifying space and highlighting a luxe new look.
5600 E. Virginia St., Ste. H • 812-491-1000
Dennis Jon Bailey
Best Local Radio Personality
The voice of WIKY-104.1 FM’s Dennis Jon Bailey has accompanied daily life in Evansville since 2004. Bailey and longtime on-air partner Diane Douglas host the popular WIKY Morning Show, providing drive-time news and entertainment that readers enjoy. As a duo, Bailey and Douglas received the Marconi Award in 2011 from the National Association of Broadcasters, as well as a 2019 honor from the Indiana Broadcasters Association. The WIKY Morning show, Bailey says, strives to reflect Evansville as “the truly wonderful place it is to live and work.”
104.1FM WIKY
Piece of Cake
Best Birthday Cake Baker
Founded in 1998 by sisters Cate Sisco and Kristi White, Piece of Cake has delighted Evansville residents ever since with cakes, cupcakes, and cookies fit for birthdays or any other big events. The magic happens in the sisters’ sweet-smelling Main Street storefront, where they share their love of baking, as well as local art. Piece of Cake fans are enthusiastic about the bakery’s array of frosting options, especially the buttercream.
210 Main St. • 812-424-2253
Evansville Half Marathon
Best Motivator to Get in Shape ★ Editors’ Pick
In the 20 years of the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana’s half marathon, more than 30,000 people have heeded the call, laced up their shoes, and hit the flat, fast course through Evansville. Many look to the half as an opportunity to get in shape, and with 13.1 miles facing them, it’s an uncompromising motivator. Hundreds of participants even band together and train for weeks in the Y’s Team 13 program. Already this year, 1,509 runners have committed to the half — including 14 who have participated every year — and are bettering their health, one step at a time. Come Sept. 30, they’ll triumphantly cross the finish line and receive their medals surrounded by cheering supporters, all while raising money for the Y. Doing good while feeling good — that’s what we call a win.
The Bauerhaus
Best Wedding Venue
When it comes to wedding venues, The Bauerhaus continues to impress readers, who for the second consecutive year have named this picturesque 15-acre site in Darmstadt, Indiana, their favorite place to celebrate a marriage ceremony. Betrothed couples need not worry about place settings, AV setups, floral arrangements, or menus — The Bauerhaus and its team of event planners do it all. As a result, wedding days are streamlined and smooth, producing a more relaxed experience on a couple’s big day.
13605 Darmstadt Road • 812-867-3169 or 812-759-9000
Mission BBQ
Best Barbecue
Located on North Green River Road, Mission BBQ is a national chain that Evansville area residents have fallen hard for. Having opened its first store on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Mission BBQ’s core values include patriotism and honoring service. With a variety of meats, sauces, and sides, Mission has something for barbecue lovers of all tastes. The business has catering as well as dine-in, and it supports a variety of military and public safety organizations.
1530 N. Green River Road • 812-213-0200
Mo’s House
Best Place to Have a Drink After Work
Bottoms up! Whether your time at the office was great, lousy, or so-so, readers say a cocktail at Mo’s House in the Haynie’s Corner Arts District is just the ticket to close the workday. The Freaky Tiki, Old Forester Manhattan, and Southern Hospitality are a few popular picks, which you can enjoy in the bar’s living room setting or patio. This is the second year Mo’s has appeared in Evansville Living’s Best of Evansville awards; in 2022, readers crowned it the city’s best bar.
1114 Parrett St. • 812-401-3800
Brinker’s Jewelers
Best Jewelry Store
Perennially a favorite, readers have awarded Brinker’s Jewelers this Best of Evansville honor for more than a decade for its commitment to excellence and quality. Brinker’s expanded its craftsmanship and impressive collection of jewelry and timepieces to Scottsdale, Arizona’s exclusive Silverleaf Club in 2022, spreading the love and joy that come in each little green box.
111 S. Green River Road • 812-476-0651
Bitterman Building
Best Example of Making Something Old New Again ★ Editors’ Pick
The grand center staircase may be gone, removed to make space for Parlor Doughnuts’ coffee bean grinder, but the Clifford Shopbell & Co.-designed Bitterman Building again buzzes with activity. The Bitterman brothers started their jewelry business in 1888 in the red brick and tile Italianate corner unit but moved into the three-story limestone and Chicago School-style building next door in 1923. Now, the mezzanine looks out over plates of flaky pastries and pours of gourmet coffee. Once-empty walnut-framed jewelry shelves are filled with branded merchandise. The store’s vault still stands, a shout-out to the building’s status on the National Register of Historic Places.
204 Main St. • 812-303-4487
Flutter
Best Women’s Clothing Boutique
This Newburgh staple was voted “Best Local Instagram Account” in 2016, and its curated style has staying power. Convenience is key at Flutter, which offers online, in-store, or app shopping for its trendy tees, Indiana-centric items, and hats, shoes, and accessories.
100 State St., Newburgh, Indiana • 812-490-9642
Randy Moore
Best Local TV Personality
In 40-plus years on Tri-State airwaves, Randy Moore has proved a favorite with readers, who gave him a Best of Evansville award for the second year running. The Evansville native started at WTVW as a general assignment reporter, sports director, and evening news anchor. He joined Channel 14 WFIE-TV in 2014 and has been a fixture on the station’s nightly newscasts since. A member of the Indiana AP Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, Moore’s extensive community involvement includes founding the Evansville chapter of Gilda’s Club (now Cancer Pathways Midwest).
Thrive Dance Academy
Best Dance Studio
Thrive’s motto is simple — “Dance. Tumble. Fun.” — and Tri-State families flock to the dance academy. Under founders and Evansville natives Molly Hall-Rode and Yvette Walts, toddlers can explore movement through KinderKombos of tumbling and dance, while older children can study jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, and hip hop. Thrive’s dance academy also consistently wins national titles and advances talented young athletes to college programs.
5611 E. Morgan Ave., Ste. A • 812-602-5400
Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream
Best Ice Cream
With four locations in Evansville and one in Newburgh, Indiana, a Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream is never far away. Fans flock there for Lic’s 20 flavors of ice cream and sorbet — in a cone or a dish, two scoops or one — with all sorts of toppings. More decadent choices are its turtle pie and choco-cremes, spherical delights with an ice cream interior and a chocolate hard shell.
Five locations in Evansville and Newburgh • 812-424-3066
Lake Rudolph Halloween Weekends
Best Place to Spend a Spooky Weekend ★ Editors’ Pick
For a spooky setting for family-friendly fall and Halloween fun, Evansville Living editors suggest making the drive to nearby Santa Claus, Indiana. The Lake Rudolph resort offers seven weekends of ghost stories told over a bonfire, trick-or-treating at 500 sites, costume and site decorating contests, a carnival, haunted hayrides, the Ghostly Golf Car Glow Parade, and more. A free shuttle runs to Holiday World next door, so guests can get in on the theme park’s Halloween fun. Lake Rudolph’s cabins and cottages, as well as sites for tents and RVs, make it easy to have a weekend of thrills and chills.
78 N. Holiday Blvd., Santa Claus, Indiana • 812-937-4458
River City Pride Parade and Festival
Best Downtown Event
Founded in 2019, River City Pride previously was staged at Haynie’s Corner Arts District, but this year it moved to Downtown Evansville and found a big crowd. Thousands flocked to Main Street in June for a parade, drag show competition, food trucks, and rows of vendors supporting LGBTQIA+ residents with community resources, rainbow apparel, free hugs, and more. Under an air of joy and sparkles, the all-day party has found a welcome home Downtown.
Goodwill
Best Store to Go Thrifting
When style- and budget-conscious readers want a steal of a deal, they go to Goodwill. From vintage dresses and shoes to retro furnishings and antique home decor, an eclectic assortment of items awaits. A bonus: Money spent at Goodwill filters back into the company’s Senior Community Service Employment Program and Goodskills Academy, which teaches marketable skills to community members.
500 S. Green River Road, 1820 First Ave., and 4660 W. Lloyd Expressway 812-474-2222
Azzip Pizza
Best Business that Gives Back
Founded by Evansville native Brad Niemeier, Azzip Pizza opened on the West Side in 2014 and has taken off with readers for its food — and philanthropy. Azzip’s various “We Give A’Zip” programs benefit schools and charities in every Tri-State community in which the store operates. Organizations can sign up for a giveback day on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, or they can take part in gift card or scrip card fundraising. Azzip’s countless pizza options and its commitment to local giving have proved to be a winning combination.
Three locations in Evansville, one in Newburgh, Indiana
Angelo’s
Best Italian Restaurant
Angelo’s on Main Street is where readers go when they are craving an Italian meal. Patrons enjoy the casual yet intimate setting, no matter if they’re perched in a cozy booth, people-watching on the patio, or gathered for a party in the La Gondola room. Angelo’s has vast Italian fare, with veal parmigiana, veal pepper, shrimp alfredo, and penne carbonara among the house specialties. You’ll want to leave room for dessert choices, such as homemade tiramisu, cheesecake, French silk pie, and cannoli.
305 Main St. • 812-428-6666
Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana’s Rooftop
Best Entertainment with a View ★ Editors’ Pick
When warm weather arrives, take in some music, sip a drink, and enjoy Downtown sights from atop the Arts Council’s roof. The Art Deck is the perfect place to herald summer with Saturday evenings filled with free live music by regional artists under dimmed string lights. Before each show, browse the Arts Council’s latest exhibit and even purchase some art in the street-level gallery. But up top, where tunes meet the stars, is where it’s at.
212 Main St. • 812-303-3178
Jeff Lyons
Best Meteorologist
A familiar face on Tri-State television since 1988, Jeff Lyons provides the daily forecasts and breaking weather alerts readers seek. He’s also made fans for his affable personality, calm demeanor, and amusing man-on-the-street interviews. Lyons’ stardust has rubbed off on his cat, Betty, who became a social media sensation during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Lyons broadcast from his Evansville home. (Betty herself even garnered a few “Best Meteorologist” reader votes this year, which we think is paw-some.)
Channel 14 WFIE-TV • @bettytheweathercat on Instagram
Honey Moon Coffee Co.
Best Place to Have a Cup of Coffee
Evansville has several outstanding local coffee haunts. But Honey Moon, which made its debut on Weinbach Avenue in 2016, gets our readers’ nod for the second consecutive year, and not just for the quality of its pour over. Visitors can sip a signature latte (try the Purple Ace with espresso, vanilla, and lavender) in a boutique setting surrounded by locally made art, crafts, and jewelry, and the cozy atmosphere lends itself well whether you need to do a bit of work, meet friends, or quietly read a book.
Three locations in Evansville and Newburgh, and a fourth coming soon • 812-602-3123
Los Bravos
Best Latin Restaurant
Which is best: East Side, North Side, or West Side? When it comes to locally owned Los Bravos, there’s no wrong answer to that age-old Evansville debate. Authentic, savory fare awaits at all three spots (plus Boonville, Jasper, and Loogootee, Indiana). Start with all the chips and salsa you can handle, and follow it up with a burrito, quesadilla, Evansville-favorite Chicken on the Beach, or steaming hot fajitas. Drinks, you ask? Try one of numerous Los Bravos’ specialty margaritas, sangrias, or cold beers.
Six area locations • 812-474-9078
New Harmony, Indiana
Best Town Within an Hour of Evansville
The former Utopian community has a small population (677 in 2023) but is big on charm. Evansville residents make the 26-mile trek west to New Harmony to shop in Downtown’s quaint, colorful historic structures, wander the concentric circle hedges of the Harmonist Labyrinth and Sacred Garden, and engage with its thriving visual and performing arts community. Whether your appetite is for solitude or socializing, New Harmony has the avenues to nourish your soul.
Sunrise Pump Station and Cascade
Best New Building Architecture ★ Editors’ Pick
Water and sewer projects typically don’t conjure images of beauty, but this addition has lent some sparkle to the riverfront. Evansville Water and Sewer Utility’s $60 million effluent pump station opened in April and returns treated water to the Ohio River in a bubbly cascade that passersby can admire from an observation deck. Down a rolling hill at the glass-fronted indoor facility, visitors have an unobstructed view of the water testing and delivery process. The pump station and cascade won the 2023 Aim Community Placemaking Award in August from Accelerate Indiana Municipalities for its efforts marrying function, design, and community engagement.
1200 Waterworks Road
Doug Rennie, Just Rennie’s Catering
Best Caterer
A takeout or sidewalk lunch at Just Rennie’s is a treat, but owner Doug Rennie likely is best known for catering. Menu options are vast: desserts, hot or cold hors d’oeuvres, and chef platters featuring fine meat and cheese collections have powered Rennie’s catering business into its 20th year in 2023. And no discussion of Just Rennie’s would be complete without mentioning its muffin-size cookies.
100 S.E. Fourth St. • 812-401-8098
Doc’s Sports Bar
Best Bar to Watch Sports on TV
When the game is heating up, Doc’s Sports Bar is ready. Stocked with 23 TVs tuned to full coverage of professional baseball, football, and hockey games as well as must-see college athletics, readers prefer Doc’s to watch a big game. The bar also opens early for major European soccer matches and caters to a sports crowd by offering wings, hot dogs, pizza, sandwiches, burgers, and plenty of beer on tap.
1305 Stringtown Road • 812-401-1201
BRU Burger Bar
Best Restaurant for a Burger
Gourmet burgers in the beautifully reimagined old Greyhound bus terminal have been a unique Evansville experience since BRU debuted in November 2016. A small chain that’s part of the Indianapolis-based Cunningham Restaurant Group, BRU serves up double bacon and bourbon burgers to die for, and a “melt your face” option with habanero hot sauce, habanero cheese, and jalapeño. Some less traditional choices include turkey, black bean, bison, and lamb burgers.
222 Sycamore St. • 812-302-3005
Head’s Construction
Best Home Remodeler
Since 1995, Head’s Construction has doubled its services to fit home and business needs under its roof. Today, the company provides roofing installation and repair, gutter and siding installation, window replacement, and garage construction with eight crews serving the Evansville and Mount Vernon, Indiana, areas. Head’s even winks at its brisk business with tongue-in-cheek billboards featuring owner Jeff Head behind bars and a “Most Wanted” sign.
1420 N. Cullen Ave. • 812-474-1669
Castle Band’s Rose Parade Invitation
Best Marching Orders ★ Editors’ Pick
The Marching Knights from Castle High School are headed west for the experience of a lifetime — the 2024 Tournament of Roses Parade. After earning an invitation at the 2022 state finals, Newburgh, Indiana’s award-winning marching band will ring in the new year performing for 750,000 spectators in Pasadena, California. Ample opportunities exist to help each Marching Knight cover trip costs — visit the Marching Knights’ website to learn more.
3344 IN-261, Newburgh, Indiana
COMFORT by the Cross-Eyed Cricket
Best Restaurant for Brunch
There’s no need to rush out the door at sunrise for breakfast at COMFORT — it’s served daily until 3 p.m. COMFORT, which opened in 2017 on Main Street, offers some of the best, you got it, comfort food around. Diners can enjoy a belt-loosening platter or skillet of traditional breakfast favorites, a made-to-order omelet, pancakes or waffles, and healthier options such as muffins, yogurt, and fruit. Toast to this readers’ pick with a mimosa, bellini, or Bloody Mary.
230 Main St. • 812-909-3742
Gray Photography
Best Portrait Photography
Readers are no strangers to Michael Gray, owner of Rare Bird Uncommon Gifts, and his photography. For 33 years, Gray has helped commemorate high school graduations, growing families, commercial enterprises, and more. Photocopying and restoration also are in his arsenal, and many of Rare Bird’s promotional images come courtesy of his lens.
2605 Lincoln Ave. 812-473-0645
Ma T 888 China Bistro
Best Asian Restaurant
Ma T 888 China Bistro prides itself on its convenient East Side location, as well as affordable prices on a lengthy list of popular Chinese delicacies, and readers have responded by declaring it the city’s best Asian restaurant two years running. Whether you eat in or grab takeout, you can count on having some leftovers for the fridge. A group can grab a Royal Queen Dinner or a Royal King Dinner that feeds 2-5 people. These are folks who are always happy to see you — Evansville social media users often comment on the bistro’s friendliness, as well as its food.
5636 Vogel Road • 812-475-2888
Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve
When readers want some distance from busy city life, they don’t have to go far. The forest lies in the heart of the East Side and offers access to more than four miles of serene trails. In a bid to increase inclusivity, the nature preserve refurbished its Mini Loop Trail, making it more accessible. Wesselman Woods also added 90 acres of land surrounding the preserve to buffer the 190-acre old-growth portion of the forest.
551 N. Boeke Road • 812-479-0771
Deep Fried West Side
Best Unvarnished Look at Evansville ★ Editors’ Pick
New in town and want the tongue-in-cheek inside track on life in Evansville? Turn to Deep Fried West Side. The anonymous parody Instagram account has exploited oddball Evansville culture and poked fun at the River City since 2021. Like fall festival foods, nothing — local television personalities, timely topics, museums, even Evansville Living — escapes Deep Fried’s skewers. The account lampoons a kernel of truth with a dash of exaggeration. Among its top hits: The camper parked on last year’s Pump-Out Island is given the Lonely Island comedy treatment. Olympic gold medalist Lilly King is depicted paddling around in Monet’s pond of — what else? — waterlilies. If you know, you know — and Deep Fried West Side is Evansville’s ultimate inside joke.
@deepfried_westside on Instagram
Mister B’s
Best Restaurant for Wings
A two-decade staple in Henderson, Kentucky, Mister B’s has since expanded to The Promenade in Evansville, bringing the franchise’s range of tasty wings across the river. Looking for pure heat? Try the hot, X-hot, or XXX-hot wings. If flavor is what you’re after, Mister B’s choices include beer mustard, three barbecue options, sweet habanero, garlic parmesan, or spicy parmesan. There is more on the menu, but if wings are your thing, Mister B’s is hard to beat.
1340 Hirschland Road, Evansville, and 2611 U.S. 41 N., Henderson, Kentucky • 812-402-2090
Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science
Best Place to View Art
There’s plenty of art to be had at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science. From works of international repute by the likes of Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol to interpretive expressions by regional artists, the museum’s galleries display a mix of paintings, collages, textiles, sculptures, and more in permanent collections, rotating exhibits, and themed installations. Some, such as for artists in residence, allow guests to purchase the displayed works for their own collections.
411 S.E. Riverside Drive • 812-425-2406
Bokeh Lounge
Best Place to Hear Local Bands
For the second year in a row, readers say head to Bokeh Lounge if you’re in pursuit of live tunes. Now with renovations complete to its indoor and outdoor stages and sound systems, Bokeh draws a crowd of dedicated fans, casual listeners, and passersby in the Haynie’s Corner Arts District. Not content just with live music, the venue and restaurant also offer poetry readings, drag shows, and DJ parties, but the dance floor is full when local bands take the stage.
1007 Parrett St. • 812-909-0388
BFit Gym
Best Place to Get Fit
The company long known as Bob’s Gym started on the West Side in 1991 and now has three locations in Evansville and one in Newburgh, Indiana. The East Side gym, near North Green River and Lynch roads, is a new state-of-the-art facility that’s even open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Work out on your own or with a group — BFit has classes of all types. And don’t be shy: BFit’s motto is, “Wherever you are, whoever you are, you’re welcome here.”
Four locations in Evansville and Newburgh
2024 Solar Eclipse
Best Time to Throw Shade ★ Editors’ Pick
Beyond the shadow of a doubt, it will be quite a scene in Evansville on April 8, 2024. The moon will slip in front of the sun for a 2.5-hour solar eclipse that begins at 12:45 p.m., with totality starting at 2:02 and ending three minutes later. Regional leaders are orchestrating a three-day celebration featuring live music, eclipse-themed events, and more in the days leading up to Evansville’s moment out of the sun, which is expected to bring 50,000-80,000 sky watchers to the area.
Cork ‘N Cleaver
Best Restaurant for a Celebratory Dinner
You don’t need a special occasion to enjoy an outing at Cork ‘N Cleaver, but readers say it’s a terrific upscale choice for any big life event. The East Side restaurant has offered diners top-shelf food and good times since 1974 when it was associated with Chart House. Locally owned and operated since 2001, The Cork serves a popular early bird menu 4-5:30 p.m. After that, the evening’s entrees are presented on the classic cleaver. The prime rib is well known, and so is its loaded and colorful salad bar.
650 S. Hebron Ave. • 812-479-6974
Greenway Passage
Best Place to Ride a Bike
Seeking greenery, waterfront views, and meandering paths on your bicycle ride? Readers recommend the Pigeon Creek Greenway, more than nine miles of separated and protected shared-use urban trails running through the city and out into the rural flatlands north of town. Storyboards along the 10-foot-wide paved trail tell the history of Evansville, and there are beautiful views along the Ohio River. It also serves as a place of diversity for plants and animals. The passage ends at the newly built Sunrise Pump Station and cascade.
Liquor Locker
Best Liquor Store
With a whopping 10 locations across Evansville, Liquor Locker delivers — literally and figuratively. Delivery service (for a minimum $20 order) is one reason Liquor Locker earned a Best of Evansville readers’ selection for 2023. Patrons can select from new and special edition beverage varieties, as well as timeless favorites in the beer, spirits, and wine realm. For those who enjoy a fine cigar with their drink, Liquor Locker also boasts an expansive selection.
Turoni’s Pizzery & Brewery
Write-In Winner: Best Pizza
Readers recommend following the pizza brick road to Turoni’s, a staple for homemade pies and freshly brewed beer since 1963. The pizzery’s famous cracker-thin crust holds up ingredients for fan-favorite pizza such as the vegetable-heavy Iron Man, pie-with-a-zing Vinny’s Pepper Planet, and Italian sausage-topped Stromboli Pie, washed down with a pint of the 24-year-old brewery’s permanent ales and rotating IPAs. Under dimmed lighting and a soundtrack of Italian music, pizza dinners take on a special ambience at Turoni’s.
Three locations in Evansville and Newburgh